Cable marking machine



Dec. 17, 1935. K. c. ALLISON CABLE MARKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8, 1955 W l/wm- Dec. 17, 1935. K. c. ALLISON 2,024,416

CABLE MARKING MACHINE FiledMarchB, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inn-1 Ill I faannay Dec. 17, 1 935.

K. C. ALLISON CABLE MARKING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1955 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 [/2 226/? for "Ken/sail:

(2 40/3012 4% (I flavor/nay Patented 1 7,1935

, CABLE MARKING MACHINE.

min-ah 0. Allison, Arlington Heights, m., assignor, by mesrle assignments, to Cinch Manution of Illinois lacturing Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application March-8, 1935, serial No. 9,985

8 Claims. (c 153-1) 7 This; invention relates tocable' marking machines and particularly to a .machine for applying metal markers towires, ropes and other similafarticls. In many electrical devices, such .5 as for example, radio receivers, it is necessary to mark'wires for identification purposes such as the ground and antenna connections of a receiver. In such and similar cases, it is desirable to have a machine which will'quickly and easily apply a marker to the wire. Because of the minor nature of such an operation, it is necessary that the machine be cheap, easy to operate and be simple enough so that no mechanical troubles may be experienced. l5 The machine hereinafter describedfulfills the above requirements and is adapted to be used in conjunction with a standard eyeletting machine.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation view of an eyeletting machine equipped with the attachment for applying markers to cables. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the attachment taken along 2--2 of Figure 4. Figure 3 is a rear view from 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a front view of the attachment from 44 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a sectional view along 55of Figure 2 looking toward the rear. Figures 6 and 7 are details of the die and anvil in open and closed position respectively. Fig- -3 ure 8 is a detail of the markerstrip. Figure 9 is a bottom viewalong 99 of Figurev 8. Figure I0 is a sectional view along |lJ-|0 of Figure 8.- Figure 1-1 is a detail showing the marker applied to a cable. Figure 12 is a detail of the feed. 35 Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, there is shown the actuating parts of an eyeletting'machine comprising a base I. from one end of which there arises a standard 2, terminating in an overhanging arm 3. Stand- 40 ard 2 has 'a bearing 5 in which is journaled a. shaft 6 carrying a wheel 1 at one end'thereof. Wheel I has a' pin l0, offset from the center thereof, on which is journaled an arm l2. The free end of arm I 2 is pivotally connected at l5 5 to the end of a lever |6 pivotally mounted at- H on overhanging arm 3. The other end l8 of lever I6 is pivotally connected to a link l9, which connects to a push rod 20, mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in a bearing 2|, at the 50 end of overhanging arm 3. Rod 20 has the bottom thereof suitably slotted and in this instance has inserted therein a die member 25.

Referring particularly to Figures 6 and 7, it will be noted that die' 25 has a transverse slot 26, cut therethrough across the end. The rear portion 21, of die 25,'extends downwardly for a distance and has a slot therethrough, transverse to slot 26. Slot 30 divides portion 21 into tip portions 3| and 32. Both tips 3| and 32 preferably have their edges bevelled at 35 for 5 reasons to be hereinafter .explained. The other half,36, of die 25, does not extend as far down as 3plortion 21, and has its outer edge bevelled at Carried by base is a base block 4| and an 10 '49 is cut away at 46 for an insert 41 of hard steel. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, this insert 41 is flush with the normal surface of block 49. The opposed edges of insert 41 and anvil 25 are hard cutting edges. The front member 49, as seen in Figure 5, has a pair of vertically disposed slots 51 and 56 therethrough at spaced positions, these same slots extending through insert 41. v A Slidably mounted in channel 55 is an elongated rectangular block 60, the front of which is cut away at 6|. The cut away portion 6| has mounted thereon by means of bolts 62, a spring blade 63, the front end of which carries a pair 35 of spaced dogs 65 maintained by screws 64. These dogs are provided with a straight leading edge 66 and a curved trailing edge 61, and as shown in Figure 5 are adapted to fit in slots 51 and 58 and project upwardly through block 49 and insert 41. To prevent spring 63 from buckling, a pair of rigid strips 68 and 69, Figure l2, are provided, maintained in position by bolts 64' and 62 respectively. These strips overlie 63 and provide a narrow gap 10 where spring 63 flexes.

Overlying block 49 and a portion of insert 41, is a guide member 15, having a cross section in the form of 'an E as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

18 and 19. These channels are separated by an interior projecting portion 8|] of member 15, said portion 80, however, clearing insert 41 a shortv distance to define a. channel 8|. The forward The outer arms 16 and 11 of this .guide member enclose a pair of spaced channels lever I85, having arms I86 and I81.

portion of member 15 has a transverse slot 83 therethrough at the center thereof as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

Bolted to the top of members 15 as by screws 85, is a leaf spring 88, carrying at its end a dog 81. "This dog isradapted toproject downwardly into slot 83 This dog 81, is similar in shape to dogs 85 and is provided with a straight leading edge 88 and a curved rear edge 88.

The marking strip shown in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, comprises a plurality of transverse.

members 88, joined at their adjacent sides by a pair of connecting links 8| and 82. Between these links is a rectangular slot 88. Transverse members 88 are provided at' their ends with upraised arms 84 and 85. As shown in Figure 11. a cable 88 has the portion 88 applied thereto and the arms 84 and 85 bent around the cable tightly to embrace the same. The link portions 8| and 82 are cut off from each side of transverse portion 88.

The marker strip, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, inclusive, is wound on a reel I 88, rotatively supported at I8| at the end of a bracket I82, carried by standard 2. The marker strip, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is fed along between guide member 15, and the top surface of block 48, so that the transverse portions 88 are perpendicular to the lengths of these members and with arms 84 and 85 extending upwardly in channels 18 and 18., Links 8| and 82, together with the intermediate portion of transverse marker 88 is adapted to ride in channel 8|.

In order to actuate elongated member 88 and reciprocate it back and forth along its length, within channel 55, the sides 58 and 5| of member 48 are cut away to form an elongated slot I83. A pin I84, connected to block 88, projects through slot I83. Pivotally mounted at I88 at the rear of the entire attachment is a bell crank Arm I81 is provided with a tortuous slot I88, in which pin I84 is adapted to ride. Arm I88 carries at itsv end a projecting member II8, to which is pivotally mounted a lever III. On each side of the pivot point II8 arm I88 carries a pair of adjusting screws H2 and H3, which bear against lever III. Lever III terminates in a fork, II4, having a slot II 5 in'the end thereof, said slot engaging pins II8, carried by die member 25.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Shaft 8, being suitably rotated, forces die member 25 through the linkage system downwardly toward anvil 48. At the same time, forked end H4 and lever III is depressed, resulting in bell crank lever I85 turning in a clockwise direction I on its pivot I88, as seen in Figure 1. Due to the shape of slot I88, the downward movement of arm I81 forces pin I84 back in slot I83. This causes elongated block 88 to be moved rearwardly a distance equal to the length of link members 8| and 82. and width of marker member 88. Dogs slip under marker members 88, being on the outside of links 8I and 82.

Assuming that a marker section is located on the anvil as shown in Figure 6, and that a cable 88 has been placed between arms 84 and 85 of the marker, the downward travel of die 25 will first sever links 8| and 82 from adjacent marker sections by means of cutting portions 3| and 32 of the die. The lowest position of the die as shown in Figure 7 finally forces arms 84 and 85 of the marker to be curved toward each other and embrace the cable. Upon the upward movement of die 25, block 88 is projected forwardly. Dogs 85 are thereupon moved from the dotted position shown in Figure 2 to the full line position shown inrlgure 5. The tips of these dogs engage marker sections 88 and feed the strip forward sufliciently to place a new marker sec- 5 nel 43. Upper dog 81, which engages slot 83 of the marker strip, yields upon the forward motion of the strip and serves to prevent the 10 marker strip from being pulled backwardly during the retractlve" travel of dogs 85. I

In order to release the feeding mechanism, a slot""I28 is provided in the side of block 48. Projecting through this slot is a finger I2| at- 15 tached to dog 55. By depressing finger I 2|, dogs 85 will yield to clear the marker strip. Spring 88 may be pulled upwardly at the same time, so that dog 81 clears the strip with the result that the strip may. be fed forwardly or 20 backwardly by hand as desired.

It has been found in practice that due to stretch or irregularities in the markerv strip, a marker section is not always accurately located on anvil 48 so that links 8| and 82 are severed at the desired places. The curved edges 35 of die 25 are therefore provided. The strip is loose enough so that where the die first touches the marker strip, adjacent sections 88 bear against opposite sides of the die and center the 30 strip.

What I claim'is:

1. In a machine for applying a marker to a cable, said marker being supplied to said machine in continuous strip form and each marker 35 comprising an elongated body adapted to lie against said cable, at least one pair of open arms for embracing said cable and adapted to be bent around it, adjacent markers being joined together by a transverse connecting link, the com- 40 bination of an anvil adapted to supporta marker withv a cable positioned between the arms thereof,

a die cooperating with said anvil, means for dropping said die on said anvil, said die being adapted on its down stroke to first sever said marker from its connecting link and thereafter bend said arms around said cable, and means adjacent said anvil and operated in conjunction with said die for progressively feeding said strip to said anvil and position a marker thereon upon the upward motion of said die.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein means are provided for locking said marker strip in position during the downward travel of said die.

3. In a machine of the character described the 55 combination of an elongated block adapted to support perforated strip material, said block being provided with a slot therethrough in line with the perforations of said strip, a catch member positioned in said slot for feeding said strip, 60 said catch member being adapted to engage said strip in the perforations thereof, means for reciprocating said catch member back and forth for feeding said strip along said block, an anvil disposed adjacent said elongated block and adapted to support a terminal section of said strip a die cooperating with said anvil to sver a section of said strip and perform an operation thereon, and means cooperating with said reciprocating means to reciprocate said die to and from said anvil in timed relation with said catch member.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said catch member is mounted on a resilient support and said member is so shaped as to slip relative to 75 r of said strip resting on said anvil, a member support a strip material provided with regularly.

spaced perforations, subject to accidental variation, means for intermittently feeding said strip along said block for a distance involving the distance between adjacent perforations as an element thereof, an anvil adapted to support a terminal section of said strip preparatory to severance and operating thereon, a die cooperating with said anvil and means for reciprocating said die in timed relation to said feeding means, said die being provided with curved edges cooperating with edges ofsaid strip for centering the same on the anvil to compensate for said variations in perforations.

6. Ina machine of the character described, an elongated U-shaped block means for supporting said block along the open arms of the U, with the bight thereof at the top, whereby an interior channel is formed, means on said U-shaped block to define a feeding channel therealong, an

anvil at the end of said feeding channel, said feeding channel being adapted to have a perforated striptherein with the terminal section slidably disposed within the interior channel defined by said U-shaped member, a spring strip having one end secured to said member and carrying at least one dog at the other end thereof, a pair of rigid strips overlying said spring and having a narrow gap therebetween to define a region for flexure, means for rigidly connecting said rigid strips to each end of said spring strip, said dog being adapted to engage said material at said perforations, said dog being so shaped that upon a forward movement thereof,-

said dog engages said material to fit the same, and upon a reverse movement said dog yields and slips by said material, a die co-operating with said anvil for severing and operating upon a section of said material and means for actuating said die andsaid feeding member in timed relation to each other. i

7. A machine of the character described comprising an elongated block having a feeding channel above said block and an additional chan- 5 nel below said block, said block being provided with at least one slot passing therethrough from said additional channel to said feeding channel, an anvil adjacent said block, said feeding channel and anvil being adapted to support a perforated metal strip, means including a resiliently mounted dog extending from said additional channel through the slot in said block to said feeding channel adapted to engage said perforated strip material for feeding the same, said dog being adapted to engage said material upon the forward motion thereof and to slip by said material upon the retractive movement thereof, and a die co-operating with said anvil for severing and operating on said strip material, said die having rounded corners in the direction of the feed of said material, whereby when said die con- 7 tacts said strip preliminarily to severing, said strip will be centered on said anvil.

8. A machine for attaching markers to cables, comprising an elongated, inverted U-shaped 1 block, said block having at least one slot passing therethrough, an E-shaped block disposed on said -first block, said E-shaped block defining a pair of spaced, parallel channels joined by a shallow channel connecting said spaced channels, said channels being adapted to pass marker material in strip form, a member mounted within said U, and carrying a dog passing through said slot,

means for reciprocating said member and dog, a an anvil disposed adjacent said U-shaped member and adapted to receive a terminal section of said strip, a die mounted for co-operation with said anvil and means for reciprocating said die and said member equipped with said dog in timed relation for severing and applying a marker.

KENNETH C. ALLISON. 

